Cigar lighter



Patented Feb. 20, i923.

naires stares earner trice."y

JULXU'S C. LEHMANN, OF JMIACA, AND GEORGE H. TIMMRMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES G. LAZARUS AND BARNEY COHEN,

BOTH 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

'crean LIGHTER.

Application iled. January 13, 192.2. Serial No. 528,965.

To all 'whom t may concern: v

Be it known that We, JULiUs C. LEHMANN and GEORGE H. rlluininiiiiiAN, citizens oft the United States, and residents, respectively, ot Jamaica and Brooklyn, in the counties ot' Queens and Kings, respectively, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements iii Cigar Lighters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lighters such as cigar lighters and more particularly to a cigar lighter of the type in VWhicha vtorch is ignited to produce a flame and the llame extinguished after it has been utilized for lighting a cigar; and has special reference to the provision of a novel cigar lighter olf this type in which the igniting and eX- tiiiguishing ot the "flame is obtained in highly efficient manner.

Amongthe numerous forms of cigar lighters previously suggested, thc commonest forms now adopted are of the type in Which a torch comprising a tank or receptacle holding a combustible fluid and provided with a Wick for Jfeeding the fluid to the mouth ot' the receptacleis ignited by means of an electric spark or 4the like to produce a flame, the flame being extinguished genL erally by mechanical snuffing members movable over the mouth ot' the receptacle. andr over the Wick therein. ln some forms of this type of cigar lighter the receptacle or tank holding the combustible fluid is movable as by being pivotally mounted with respect to the mechanical snufling member and in other forms of this type the mechanical snuffing member is movably mounted with respect to the fluid receptacle. ln the use of these :forms of cigar lighters it has beenl the parts are found to become Worn and broken after some use, requiring replace-` ment of parts. Furthermore, Where relatively movable parts are `used and Where the snufling member is movable over the Wick. 'it is found necessary to utilize a moreeXl pensive fuel since the less expensive fuels carbonize too readily, the carbonizing resulting in rendering the parts sooty and dirty, vthis requiring frequent cleaning.

Moreover, with this type of lighter cigar' ashes which fall and are deposited on the Wick during lighting of a cigar impregnate the Wick and vi'eiuler the same difficult of ignitioii. For the purpose ot.' overcoming these disadvantages incident to the use of previous forms of lighters ive have found it desirable to produce a novel cigar lighter in `vvhicli'eX- terior moving parts are eliminated, and in which the llame ignited is` capable of beingy extinguished WithoutA mechanical snufiing members, a cheaper -fiiel such as kerosene orgasolene being thus capable of being used, and in which the wick maybe kept clean from any cigar ashes which fall or are deposited upon the same and the provision of such a cigar lighter is a prime desideratum of our present invention. y

rEhe principal objects of our present inprovision of a cigar lighter having the characteristics above enumerated, theV 'further provisionof a cigar lighter in Which a stationary' torchv comprising' a tank orrecepn tacle is utilized Afor holding the combustible fluid and in which the torch is ignited` by means of a spark produced across stationary electrodes at the mouth of the receptacle; the further provision of a cigar lighter of this type in which the flame produced is extinguished by means of a blast or current'` of' air projected onto the flame: the 'further provision ot' an apparatus'olithis nature iii which the spark produced is olf the continuous or jump spark type rproduced by an iiiduction coil having its primary circuit nor-` mally open and adapted to be vclosed by the movement of a push button or plunger; 'the further provision otaii apparatus of this kind in vwhich movement of' the plunger also creates a blast or current of air for extinguishing the flame after it has been used for lighting purposes and the general pro- 8'0 vention may be said to include, besides the vision of a cigar .lighter of the type referred to in which the parts are few in nurnber, capable of being easily manufactured and subject to simple and efficient operation in use.

T o the accomplishment of'the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, our invention consist-s in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to th j accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of our invention and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the cigar lighter with parts broken away and other parts shown in cross section,

Figure 2 is a plan view therof,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a detail, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of the electrical circuits therefor.

Referring now to the drawings, we` provide the usual receptacle or box 10 preferably made of wood for housing and supporting the parts of the lighter, the said box 10 being provided with a detachable cover 11 to which is attached the operating parts of the lighter. As hereinbefore relferred to, a prime desideratum of our present invention comprehends a construction in which the exterior parts of the lights are non-movable, the torch and the means for igniting and extinguishing the saine comprising stationary members. To this end we provide the torch 12 mounted on the top of the cover 11, the said torch comprising a tubular body provided with a bottom and a top 14k attached thereto, the top 14 comprising preferably a casting having an integral neck piece 15. These parts form a receptacle for holding combustible fluid such as kerosene or gasolene and for feeding the fluid to the mouth of the neck piece 15 we provide the usual wick 16. For filling the receptacle we preferably provide the filling cup 17 mounted on a lug 18 formed integrally with the bottom 13, the lug and bottom comprising preferably a unitary casting, the cup 17 communicating with the interiorvof the receptacle by means of a passage 19. The cup may be provided with a screw threaded or pivoted closure or cap 20, the latter being shown in the drawings. is vill be apparent from a consideration of *igure 1, the cup 17 is so arranged with respect to the receptacle as to prevent the filling of the receptacle above a predetervmined level7 this to the end'of minimizing the overflow or spilling of the contents of the receptacle to minimize the liability of firing` of the combustible fluid.

For igniting the wick 16 we provide tionary electrodes spaced from each other to provide a spark gap., the wick being intended to be ignited by the production of an electric spark across the said electrodes. To this end we provide a tubular member 21 attached to the receptacle as by being inserted in registering apertures in the top and bottom castings 14 and 13 respectively, the said tubular member carrying and sup'- porting an insulated conductor 22, thetop end of which is bared to provide the electrode 23, the said electrode being held in position by means of t-he insulating cap 241 threadedly attached to the top end of the tubular member 21. The electrode 23 is spaced from the mouth of the neck 15, the neck 15 forming the second and opposite electrode, as will become further apparent hereinafter. The neck 15 is preferably provided with a cut away portion at its mouth as at 2d', this to the end of facilitating ignition of the wick. 1t will be apparent from this construction that when a spark is produced across the electrodes 23 and 15 the wick 16 will be ignited to produce a fiame for cigar lighting` purposes.

For the. purpose of extinguishing the flame so produced, we provide means for creating a. blast or current of air and for projecting said blast onto the fiame, the flame being thus extinguished by a blowing` action. To this end we provide a second tubular member 25 supported by the liquid receptacle and received by registering apertures in the top and bott-om 13 and 1d thereof, the said tubular member being bent at its upper end and provided with va mouth 26 situated adjacent the mouth of the torch 12, the said tubular member being intended for conducting and projecting a blastfof air at the mouth of the torch for extinguishing the wick flame. By the provision of the above recited mea-ns it will be apparent that parts with the disadvantages inherent there-v to, the blast of air for extinguishing the flame further functioning?,` for blowing away any ashes which fall or are deposited upon the wick 16, keeping the same in a clean condition and ready for quick ignition.

For the purpose of producing the spark across the electrodes 23 and 15 we provide an induction coil with its primary and secondary circuits and a source of energy such vas a battery of cells, these parts being` housed or enclosed by the box 10. The primary circuit includes the battery of cells 27, the primary winding y) of the induction coil 28, the interruptor 29 mounted on the induction coil and the switch mechanism generally designated as 30. rllhe switch mechanism 30 preferably comprises the opposed resilient stationary contact elements 31 and 32 and a movable contact member 33 associated therewith. The contact element 31 isl electrically connected to one electrode of the battery cells by means of the conductor 34, theother electrode of the cells being connected to the prima-ry of the coil 28 bynieans of the conductor 35, conductors 36 and 37 being provided for completing they primary circuit by connecting the contact element 32 to the other terminal of the pri mary winding of the induction coil, these conductors being connected together by attaching adjacent terminals thereof to the bottom casting 13 of the torch vl2 as by the securing means 3,8, these adjacent ends of the conductors being attached to a screw threaded lug 39 preferably formed integrally with the bottom 13 oi the liquid receptacle, the said screwl threaded lug providing means for attaching the liquid receptacle to the top of the boX 10 as by means of a nut 40 threadedly engaging the said threaded lug 39. i The secondary circuit of the induction coil includes the secondary' elements 3l and 32. To this end the Contact! member 33 is movable into contact relationy with the elements 3l and 32 and for this purpose we mount the said contact member 33 on a reciprocable push'button or plunger 4l movable in a threaded bushing 42,` the lattery being threadedly attached to thebox'top l1, the threaded bushing receiving the correspondingly threaded cap 44, the latter being provided for `housing asprin'045` surrounding the shank of the plunger 4l and operatire for noianallyurging the plunger upwardly by engaging the block or .head 46 of the said plunger. The plunger may be provided at its top with the operating button 47. t will be apparent from this construction that as the push button or plunger is toreed downwardly the switch contact eleiizents 3i and 32 are bridged by the contact member for the closing of the primary circuit and for the producing of the spark.

For the purpose or preventing or minimizing sparking when the plunger 4l is re- .turned to ascended or normal position, we

preferably provide the insulating member 43 ci truste-conical configuration so arraA ged on the plunger 4l as to engage the Contact elementsl land 32 and move the same outwardly during the ascent of the plunger. upward movement of the plunger taking place with sumcient rapidity to prevent contact between the elements 3l and p 32 with the contact member 33.

For the purpose of producing or creating the blast or current of air hereinbefore referred to," we provide the bellows 49 yattached tothe box cover ll, thevair tube 25 being arranged to communicate with the.

interior or" the bellows 49, the air tube 25 comprising theintake and the exhaust for the said bellows. The bellows 49 is preferably operated during the production of the igniting spark, the said bellows being preferably further operated by the same means ior energizing the electrical circuits, and more particularly by means or' the plunger` 4l. To Athis end the bottoni wall 50 of the bellows is extended to provide ank operating arm 5l and the plunger 4l is provided at its bottom with a bell crank lever52 for engaging the arm 5l to actuate the same downwardly to open the bello-ws upon the downward actuation of the said plunger 41.

F or the purpose I germitting a quick return or collapsing or the bellows for eX- tinguishing the flame, vthe bell crank lever 52 is preferably pivotally mounted on vthe plunger `4l with meansv provided for effecting the disconnection between the bell crank lever and the arm 5l whenthe vplunger -l-l is about to be released by the operator. To this end a cam 53 is provided which -func'- tions to constrain thelever 52to engage the arrnl when the plunger 4l moves downf wardly and tofrelease the arm 5l uponthe upward movement of theplunger 4l. l? or `this purpose the arm 54 of the bei. crank lever52 is provided atv itsend with a tol-v` lower 55 movable in the annular cam groove 56 or the cam 53,- the said cam follower be` ing constrained to move in the channel 5T of the groove 56 when the plunger 4l moves downwardly, thus effecting' engagement .beg tween the other arm 58 of the lever 52 and the arm 5l t the bellows, In the downward niotion of the bell eranklever the lollower 55 passes a Happer 59 normally held in the position shown in Figure 3 by being weighted as at'60`, the said lapper being ei'- ective tor causing the follower 55 toride thereunder when the said follower paises the tlapper this being shown in dotted line position in Fig re 3 oithc drawings. lWhen this erreurs the arm 51S oi" the bell crank lever disengages the arm 5l ot thebellows and the bellows quickly returned to collapsed `condition by means oi aspring 5l connected thereto and aneliored to the boit top ll. lilith the upwardnfove ment ot the plunger 4l lthe follower 55 moves in 'the channel 62 or the com groove and when vthe plunger reaches lippeniost position the bell crank lever moves ny gravitation to its position shown in the upper dotted line figure shown in Figure 3 iio of the drawings. For the purpose of preventing rotational movement of the plunger il the head 1i-6 thereof is preferably squared as clearly shovvn in the drawings.

The use and operation of our ci lighter will, in the main, be apparent from the above detailed description thereof. lvl/Then it is desired to light a cigar the button All' is pushed or urged downwardly, the primary circuit of the induction coil being thereby closed and a spark being produced in the secondary circuit across the electrodes for igniting the Wick 16. rlhis dov/nward inotion of the push button e117 sinuiltaneousiy opens the bellovss, a supply of air being inducted therein through the tube ll/'hen the vpush button e? is released as after the lighting of a cigar, the bellows quickly colH lapses, creating a blast or jet of air at the mouth of the torch and extinguishing the Wick nlqhis blast of air simultaneously forcibly blows away any cigar ashes which may have fallen upon the Wick.

it ivill be apparent from the above 'that We have provided a cigar lighter-,in which no exterior movable parts are provided` in vviich no carbonizing of parts above the Wick takes place as in prior lighters and in which the wick may be kept ina clean and lit condition for an indefinite period. 1t will be further apparent that although have disclosed our invention With particularity,y showing a specific embodiment thereof, that numerous changes may be made in the constructional features such, for example, as the provision of adiflferent type of spark producing means or the provision of a different type of air blast producing means, it being further apparent, for example, that the bellows in our present construction may be rigidly attached to the operating plunger, and that other construe-tional features Within Wide variations. may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

lWe claim:

1. A lighter comprising a torch, means for igniting the torch to produce a flame and instrumentalit' for extinguishing the llame by blowing action.

Q. A lighter comprising a stationarily mounted torch, means for igniting the torch to produce a flame, the said means including stationary electrodes adjacent the torch and instruinentalities for extinguishing the tlaine by blowing action.

l. It lighter Vrompi'isiirg a receptacle holding a combustible fluid, the said receptacle being provided at its mouth With a Wick, electrodes and a'circuit therefor for producing a spark at the Wick for igniting the saine to produce a flame and instrumentalities for extinguishing the flame by projecting a blast or current of air thereon.

e. A lighter comprising a stationarily mounted receptacle holding a combustible luid, the said receptacle being providedat its mouth with a Wick, stationarily arranged electrodes and a circuit therefor for producing al spark at the Wick for igniting the same to produce a flame and instrumentalities for extinguishing the flame by projecting a blast or current of air thereon.

5. A lighter comprising a torch, means for iguiting the torch to produce a. flame and instrumentalities for extinguishing the torch comprising means for conductinga et of air to the torch for blowing out the flame.

6. lin a cigar lighter or the like, a torch adapten to be ignited for producing a flame and means for extinguishing the flame by projecting a blast or current of air thereon.

-7. A cigar lighter comprising a torch, means-for producing an electric spark for yigniting the torch to produce a flame, the

said nie-ansy including an electric circuit, provisions for producing av blast or current of air operative to extinguish the flame and unitary means for energizing thesaid circuit and operating the said provisions.

8. A cigar 4lighter comprisingl a torch, means for producing an electric spark for igniting the torch toproduce a flame, the said means including an electric circuit, provisions for producing a blast or current of air operative to extinguish the flame and units means for energizing the said circuit and operating the said provisions, the said unitary means comprising a push'but-A ton or plunger cooperating with the said circuit and the provisions for closing the circuit. to produce the spark when the plunger is moved in onedirection and for efn fecting the production of the saidpblast or `current of air when the plunger is moved in another direction.

9. el cigar lighter comprising a receptacle or tank holding'a combustible fluid and being provided at its mouth with a Wick, stationary electrodes located at the mouth of the receptaclefor igniting the Wick to produce a llame, an induction coil having its secondary in circuit .vith the said electrodes, an interrujitor and a normally open switch mechanism in circuit lWith the primary of the induction coil, provisions for producing a blast or current of air at the mouth of the receptacle for extinguishing the Wick flame and unitaryv means for opening and closing the circuit of the primary -winding and for effecting the production of the blast of air.

10. ln a cigar lighter. a. torch adapted to be ignited for producing` a flame, means for creating a blast or jet of air to extinguish the flame, the said means comprising a bellows and provisions for operating the same.

1l. lighter comprising a torch, means for igniting the torch to produce a flame and iio instrumentalities for extinguishing the llame by projecting a blast or current of air thereon, the said instrumentalities comprising a bellows and provisions for operating the same.

12. 1n a cigar lighter' or the like, a torch,

lelectrodes for producing an electric spark at the torch to ignite the same, a circuit for the said electrodes, a vnormally open switch mechanism in said circuit, a-member movable in opposite directions and coacting with said switch mechanism, the con-- struction being such that movement ot the member in one direction effects the closing of the switch mechanism and movement of the said member in the opposite direction is elected without closing of the switch mechanisni.

13. In a device of the class described, a bellows, means for operating the bellows comprising a member movable in opposite directions, provisions associated withk said bellows and said means and arranged to connect the means to the bellows when the former moves in one direction and to disconnect the said means from the bellows when the said means moves in the opposite direction.

14. A liOhter comprising a torch, means for igniting the torch to produce a flame, the said means including a spark producing` circuit and instrumentalities for extinguishing the flame by projecting a blast or current of air thereon, the said instrumentalities comprising a bellows land provisions for operating the same.

15. A lighter comprising a torch, means for igniting the torch to produce a flame and instrumentalities for extinguishing the fia-me by projecting a blast or current or air thereon, the said instrumentalities comprising a bellows and a push button or plunger cent the said wick, a conductor having a` terminal adjacent the said mouth of the receptacle and forming one electrode of a circuit, the said receptacle comprising the other electrode of the circuit.

17. In a. device of the class described, a receptacle for holding a combustible duid,

the said receptacle being provided at its mout-h with a wick, a tube 'o-r conducting air under pressure arranged adjacent `to said receptacle, the said tube terminating adjacent the said wick, a conductor having a terminaladjacent the said mouth of thel receptacle and 'forming one electrode of a ,CiCvlta the said receptacle comprisingthe and forming one electrode of circuit,the`

said receptacle comprising the other electrode of the circuit, a bellows 'forcreating a blast or jet of airto be conducted through said tube, the tube being in communication with the bellows and means for operating the bellows comprising provisions connectible to the bellows tor opening the same and disconnectible from the bellows for permitting a quick return or collapsing the same.

19. 1n a device of the class described, a tank or receptacle for holding a combustible fluid, said receptacle being provided with a wick-at its mouth, a tube for conduct-A ing a'blast or jet ot'ar to the mouth ort the receptacle, a bellows in ycommunication with the said tube and means engageable with'the said bellows to move the saine to open position, the said means being disengageable from the bellows when vthe latter moved to open positionv and means operable on the bellows to quickly return the same to collapsed condition upon `disengagement of said means. f i

20. ln a device of the class described, a tank or receptacle for holding a combustible fluid, said' receptacle being provided with a wick at its mouth, a tube for conducting a blast or jet ot air to the mouth of the receptacle, a lbellows in communication with the said tube and means for operatingthe said bellows. f

, Signed at New York, in the county of New York vand State of'N'ew' `York, this 9th day of January, A.. D. 19252,. l

" JULlUS C, LEHMANN.

GEURGE TIMMERMAN. 

